For the crochet folks out there…
Amigurumi (編みぐるみ) is, according to Wikipedia, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. So, string + tool = cute stuffed thing. It’s a pretty cool hobby, and there are people who are crazy good at it. I am not one of those people. However, that certainly is not the fault of my teacher, Stacey Trock of FreshStitches. Several years ago (when Stacey was still living in the area and working at A Tangled Skein, I took an Introduction to Amigurumi class from her, and had a blast. I made an awesome little piggy, who has since gone on walkabout somewhere. If he ever resurfaces, I’ll be sure to grab a picture.
Since that time, Stacey has moved on to new things, and is now a full-time designer of cool amigurumi. And, for a limited time, you can get one of her ridiculously cute patterns (Frankie the Lobster) absolutely free! You should definitely check out Frankie, Stacey, and the rest of the FreshStitches menagerie. They’re all adorable.